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Last week Governor Newsom released California SMARTER Plan: The Next Phase of California’s COVID-19 Response. The Governor is referring to it as the next phase of living with the virus recognizing that we need to move from a pandemic approach to an endemic approach to living with the virus. The plan is intended to create flexibility related to COVID-19 public health measures and approaches to mitigation and adaptation of measures through effective and timely strategies. The SMARTER Plan – Shots, Masks, Awareness, Readiness, Testing, Education, and Treatment – outlines goals, metrics, and priorities including maintaining and expanding a focus on equity. The focus on equity includes fiscal investments to address disparities in underserved communities, including the disability community.
The plan specifically states the following: “As we enter this next phase, it is important for us not to forget that COVID-19 disproportionately affected our low-income, Latino, Black, Native American and Pacific Islander communities, individuals in rural parts of the state, as well as workers in high- risk settings. It will be equally important for us not to lose sight of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our older and disabled Californians. We must accelerate change to address these longstanding inequities. “
Moving forward, The Arc/UCP CA Collaboration will continue to work with the Governor’s Office, the Legislature, CA Department of Public Health, and CA Department of Developmental Services to advocate for the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and services providers, to ensure appropriate, timely, and equitable response to the needs of our community as we navigate the next phase of living the with COVID 19 virus.
View Plan
https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/smarterplan.pdf